This was first described with warfarin therapy by Feder and Auerbach in 1961 and was
shown to be caused by showers of atheroemboli (Ann Intern Med 1961: 55: 911-17).
Now, with the increasing use of coronary angioplasty and thrombolytic therapy in the
elderly, cholesterol emboli are increasingly reported. They result in 'purple toes' (Fig.
84), amaurosis fugax, and atheroembolic disease of kidneys, skin and gastrointestinal
tract.

What do you know about the 'purple toe syndrome' ?

This was first described with warfarin therapy by Feder and Auerbach in 1961 and was
shown to be caused by showers of atheroemboli (Ann Intern Med 1961: 55: 911-17).
Now, with the increasing use of coronary angioplasty and thrombolytic therapy in the
elderly, cholesterol emboli are increasingly reported. They result in 'purple toes' (Fig.
84), amaurosis fugax, and atheroembolic disease of kidneys, skin and gastrointestinal
tract.